LaMelo Ball is primed to benefit the Minnesota Timberwolves in numerous ways. Perhaps the biggest area in which he'll benefit the team, though, is by taking the pressure off Anthony Edwards as a ball-handler and creator. Frankly, the immense responsibilities that Ant had this past season were a reflection of the Timberwolves' roster flaws, and this, in turn, made trading for Ball vital.
During a recent appearance on Bleacher Report's NBA Insider Notebook with Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, Chris Finch spoke about this aspect of the trade.
“Last year, we did Anthony a little bit of a disservice, not intentionally. But we played him on the ball a lot. I think it was good for him in many ways, but also it was limiting for us. By necessity, we did that; we now get him to his natural position, and not only that, we get a great player alongside of him," Finch said.
To Finch's point, this challenging experience could benefit Edwards later in the season. After this past season, it was clear that to maximize Edwards and the team as a whole, another playmaker was needed.
While some people objected to trading an unprotected pick, three pick swaps, and Naz Reid, the support that LaMelo offers Edwards and the Timberwolves made this trade something the team couldn't pass up.
LaMelo Ball can help uplift Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves
As is, Edwards is a top-five-caliber player. Remarkably, he's reached this impressive level while never having a guard alongside him who has both gravity as a playmaker and scorer, or, frankly, a roster that maximized him. Additionally, Edwards is naturally an off guard who is an exceptional scorer, rather than a lead guard who runs the show as a playmaker.Â
Given this, it's hard not to be excited about how LaMelo's presence will elevate Edwards and the rest of the team.Â
The Timberwolves' overreliance on Ant was a problem all season long, but things hit a breaking point in the second-round against the San Antonio Spurs. In this series, Edwards was constantly double-teamed, and there was nobody who could consistently take the pressure off him. This, of course, made life tough for Ant, but it also made the Wolves' offense clunky.
Thankfully, LaMelo can solve this problem. Look, his game might not be your cup of tea. However, there's no denying that Ball is a highly gifted scorer and playmaker who elevates any offense that he's on. The Charlotte Hornets' offense was 11.6 points better with LaMelo on the court this past season.
Having a prolific offensive player like Ball will elevate Edwards while simultaneously helping the Timberwolves address their previous roster flaws.Â
After their second-round exit, it was clear that Minnesota's roster wasn't built to win at the highest level. The combination of two non-spacing big men and a lack of consistent perimeter support alongside Edwards was untenable.
Minnesota isn't done yet, as they still need to upgrade their forward depth with Naz Reid in Charlotte and Julius Randle in Brooklyn. Regardless, LaMelo gives Edwards an ideal co-star and helps the Wolves build a cleaner-fitting roster.Â
In a conference with the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder, saying that the Timberwolves now have a runway to a championship would be rather silly. Without a doubt, though, LaMelo gives them a better chance, given the need for extra playmaking and shooting against these fierce defenses.Â
Ultimately, while Timberwolves fans understood these factors and why the trade had to be made, hearing it from Finch was certainly refreshing.Â
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